Business travelers seek alternate means

They flock to trains, cars and buses

By

JoeMathieu

NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Car rental companies and bus and train lines have been forced to accommodate a flood of unexpected business in the wake of this week's terrorist attacks, which crippled the nation's air traffic system for several days.

Amtrak, which is honoring paper airline tickets, is beefing up capacity around the country, adding more cars to trains and running special trips into and out of New York.

"Typically we do about a half-million dollars a day in walk-up business in New York. We did a million dollars on Wednesday," says Amtrak spokesman Rick Remington.

Surprisingly, Remington says travelers will have the easiest time finding seats within the affected Northeast corridor, as the company has added up to 200 seats to unreserved trains to handle the overflow.

Most car rental agencies are also making changes to help stranded travelers, who have been clamoring for one-way rentals. Companies including Dollar, Avis and Hertz are waiving drop-off fees for one-way rentals and extending rental periods with no penalties.

"We have opened up 100 percent of our fleet for 'one-ways'," says Kerry Snow, spokesperson for Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group
DTG, -1.66%
The company normally reserves just 10 percent of its fleet for one-way rentals.

Snow says, "There has definitely been an increase in business. On Tuesday, 25 of our cities were totally sold out."

"The system is working. We have moved some of our fleet around to accommodate everyone and make sure we provide the support that is needed," Gates said, noting demand is spread evenly out throughout the country.

Airline aftermath

As for the airlines, it could be some time before traffic is running smoothly again.

Jefferson recommends that air travelers allow at least an extra hour to check-in for flights.

In the meantime, many airlines are waving traditional penalties for changing reservations and some are offering full refunds, depending on when tickets were booked. Here is the status for different carriers as of Friday:

ATA
AMTR
says passengers who have purchased tickets for travel through Sept. 14 can rebook, cancel, or change plans without penalties, if travel is completed within the ticket validity period. Get updates at www.ata.com.

American Airlines
AMR, +4.61%
will allow exchange exceptions for travel between Sept. 9 and Sept. 18. Passengers should contact the carrier to confirm rules, or check www.aa.com.

Passengers on Trans World Airlines, now owned by American's parent company, scheduled to travel between Sept. 11 and Sept. 25 may change with no fees, but must travel on or before Nov. 15. Refunds for that same period will be granted. Details at www.twa.com.

Continental Airlines
CAL, +0.62%
is waiving change fees for tickets originally issued for travel between Sept. 11 and Sept. 17, and customers may extend their outbound and inbound travel period by up to one year from the date of ticket issuance, without penalty or change fees. Get more info at www.continental.com.

Delta Air Lines
DAL, +0.63%
and its connection carriers -- Atlantic Coast Airlines, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Comair and SkyWest -- say customers with confirmed reservations through Sept. 18 may make changes to their travel dates with no penalties, provided they are rebooked within the next 60 days. Learn more at www.delta.com.

Midwest Express
MEH, -0.17%
has waived change fee and refund rules for customers scheduled for travel between Sept. 11 and Sept. 17. Passengers may extend their travel period by up to one year from the date of issuance. Details: www.mmidwestexpress.com.

Northwest/KLM
NWAC
have waived change fee and refund rules for customers scheduled for travel between Sept. 11 and Sept. 14. Passengers may extend travel period by up to one year from the date of ticket issue, without penalty. Further information at www.nwa.com.

Southwest Airlines
LUV, +2.40%
will grant full refunds for customers with confirmed reservations, no matter the travel date. Get travel tips at www.southwest.com.

United Airlines
UAL, +0.84%
is directing all inquiries to www.united.com and its flight information numbers: 1-800-241-6522 (reservations) or 1-800-824-6200 (automated information number).

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